The Maunder Minimum was a prolonged period of low sunspot counts, corresponding to the latter part of the Little Ice Age.
Low sunspot counts indicate low sun activity, and are therefore thought to be directly related to low temperatures on Earth.
The period from 1650 to 1700 is known to have seen some severe winters, which squares up nicely with the idea that it was the sun that was the main driver of climate change back then.
It also fits well with the history of the Nigard Glacier which grew most rapidly from about 1650 to 1750. The Nigard Glacier is estimated to have a response time to climate change of about 35 years. Back in the 17th century, when the glacier was substantially larger, the response time must have been longer.
From data available to us, we see that the deepest part of the Maunder Minimum lasted from 1650 to 1700. That's 100 to 50 years prior to the Nigard Glacier's maximum extent.
If we estimate the response time of the Nigard Glacier to have been between 100 and 50 years during its maximum, we get a perfect match between the glacier's behavior and the Maunder Minimum.
What can also be seen in the above diagram is that we appear to have reached the end of the Modern Maximum. Solar activity is dropping off. If this trend continues, we are likely to see the Nigard Glacier start growing again in a not too distant future.
From data available to us, we see that the deepest part of the Maunder Minimum lasted from 1650 to 1700. That's 100 to 50 years prior to the Nigard Glacier's maximum extent.
If we estimate the response time of the Nigard Glacier to have been between 100 and 50 years during its maximum, we get a perfect match between the glacier's behavior and the Maunder Minimum.
What can also be seen in the above diagram is that we appear to have reached the end of the Modern Maximum. Solar activity is dropping off. If this trend continues, we are likely to see the Nigard Glacier start growing again in a not too distant future.
No comments:
Post a Comment